Black Dirt from my Dormant Fireplace
On New Year’s Eve instead of partying I was cleaning up soot and dirt that was pouring out of my dormant, bedroom fireplace. Can anyone tell me what this is and what I can do to stop this. I’m cleaning and dusting daily. In the evenings when I come home there is soot and dirt…
On New Year’s Eve instead of partying I was cleaning up soot and dirt that was pouring out of my dormant, bedroom fireplace. Can anyone tell me what this is and what I can do to stop this. I’m cleaning and dusting daily. In the evenings when I come home there is soot and dirt all over my furniture, t.v., phone and bed. It seems that everything my kids touch has this awful soot on it which they are transfering to my walls. I’ve gone through 3 magic erasers getting that stuff off my walls. Help!!!
Whew! I just accidentally came across this one. Nearly missed the post.
Yes, Manny did both my FPs and lined the third flue. He did a top class job, really. I was about to post some pics, but here’s a preview for you:
http://www.flickr.com/gp/15516153@N02/78rxhc
to ohise, just want your opinion on manny’s work, if he actually did your fireplace, and how is it working? Would you reccommend him.
sounds like old soot from a once wood burning fireplace and as someone mentioned above the flue is open to the roof and pressure is blowing soot into your rooms. If you suspect the boiler is tied into this section of fireplace (can easily check by seeing where the boiler is located in the cellar in relation to this fireplace) it may be worth a professional inspection. Otherwise, they sell balloons that can be expanded into the old flue or you can stuff an old cloth for now. I’ve known some who’ve closed from the outside or bricked/woooded it up from the inside. good luck
This is not a good sign. The last time I was called to check out something like this, it turned out the boiler flue was tied into the fireplace chimney.
Black soot usually comes from an oil boiler or oil-fired water heater.
Look into this immediately and don’t take it lightly.
Thanks Montrose Morris!!!
chim-chiminey chim-chiminy chim-chim cheroo
Sounds like your flue is open. You could also have birds or squirrels nesting, or running around in there, as it is nice and warm. Can you, or get someone, to get under the chimney and shine a light up? You can easily see if you have a flue, and if it’s open or not. Hopefully, it will manually close. If it’s gone, or won’t close, you should be able to block it up with some plywood, at least temporarily.